Bullet stop



Feb. 19, 1935. A. D. CASWELL BULLET STOP Filed May 15, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Pi .1. r a

Arthur D. Caswell Feb. 19, 1935. A. D. CASWELL 1,992,001

BULLET STOP Filed May 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arthur D. Caswen 5%", My(42M arty/MA;

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

" t '7 1,992,001-:: BULLET s'ror H Arthur D. 'Caswell, Anoka,Application May 15, 1933, Serial No. 671,128

3 Claims.

My invention relates to bullet stops and has for its object to provide asimple and effective device which willfunction positively andeffectively.

An object'of the invention resides in'providing a bullet stop which maybe constructed as an individual unit and which may be utilized inconjunction with other units to build up a battery of bullet stops.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing thebullet stop with two deflector plates arranged one above the other andinclined so as to causethe downward discharge of bullets when thebullets strike the same.

An object of the invention resides in providing a downwardly projectinglip at the lower end of each deflector plate from which the bullets aredischarged.

Another object of theinvention resides in placing areceptacle below said.discharge lip and into which the bullets are discharged after the forceof the bullets has been spent.

vA still further object of the invention'resides in arranging theuppermost bullet stop with the lipthereof projecting rearwardly of thebullet stop immediately below it so as to cause the discharge of bulletsfrom said upper deflector plate directly into the receptacle. r

Another object of the invention resides in providing verticallyextending guides and in slidably positioning one of the deflector platesfor vertical movement relative to theiguide. A featureof' the inventionresides in employing posts, preferably'of T-shaped or, angular crosssection with theflanges thereof facing one another and lying in a commonplane tosupport said deflector plates, the flanges of said posts formingthe guides forthe movable deflector plates.

An object of the invention'resides in providing each or the deflectorplateswith laterally, disposed flanges and, in further; providing meanson said flanges for engagement, withthe flanges of the posts. i v

Another object of the invention resides in attaching pulleys to theupperends of the posts and, in providing cables passing over said pulleys,

said cables being each secured at one end to one of said deflectorplatesand having attached to their other ends counter weights. I Afeature of the invention resides in attaching each cable to a part ofthestructure for guiding the deflector plate along the guides. i

An object of the invention resides in extending a rod across the flangesof each deflector plate nearthe upper ends thereof, said rods serving assupports for the targets.

Other. objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement ofparts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described. 1

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of an installationillustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.1., V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the guide structure utilizedwith oneof thedeflector plates.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 taken on line6-6 of Fig. 1.

:My invention proper may-be installed in basements or other localitieswhere thespace is confined and where protection isdesired. In thedrawings I have shown a'portion ofabuilding having a floor 10' and aceiling 11', .said ceiling comprising joists 12 arranged at spacedintervals and covered by flooring 13 forming the floor of an upperstory. These joists serve to support the posts used with the invention.It can readily be comprehended, however, that where joists arenot,available suitable auxiliary supports may be erected so that theinvention may be installed in any type of building regardless of the construction thereof or regardless of the ceiling height of the room inwhich the bullet stop is to be used. f. r i

My invention proper comprises a plurality of metal posts 14, 15,16 and17 which are preferably T-shaped in cross section having aligningflanges 18 and 19 and outwardly extending flanges 20. These posts arepreferably} arranged with the flanges18 and 19 in a common plane. Wherethe installation isbeing made in abuilding such as described,'the posts14,-15, 16and-17 aresomewhat longer-than the height between-the floor 11and the'undersidesof the joists 12 and the upper ends ofzthe said postsare in such case bolted directly to one of the joists 12 through bolts21. The lower ends of these posts are bolted by means ofbolts 23 to ahorizontally extending angle 22, which angle is in turn anchored to thefloor 10 in any suitable manner. Between the various posts l4, 15, 16and 17 are disposed identically constructed deflector plates 24, 25, 26,27, 28 and 29, a detailed description of, one of which will suffice forall.

The deflector plate 26 is constructed of sheet steel and consists of aplate-like portion 30 which has bent downwardly therefrom along the twolateral edges thereof, flanges 31 and 32. These flanges 31 and 32 fitsnugly in between the facing edges of the flanges 18 and 19 of posts 15and 16. At the lower end of the plate portion 30 is a curved dependinglip 33, the lower marginal portion of which extends substantiallyvertically when the deflector plate is properly mounted between the twoposts 15 and 16. 1

The deflector plate 26 is arranged in inclined relation with the lip 33at the lower end thereof farthest from the shooting booth and with theplate portion 30 inclining upwardly and toward the marksman.

The deflector plate 26, like its companion upper plates 24 and 28, isheld in position through two pairs of clip angles 34 and 35 which arewelded to the flanges 31 and 32 along lines 135. These clip angles arearranged in spaced relation, one pair thereof receiving the flange 19 ofthe post 15 and the other pair receiving the flange 18 of post 16, saidclip angles being angularly disposed with respect to the flanges 31 and32 so as to hold the deflector plate in proper inclined position. Bolts36 passing through the outstanding flanges 37 of the clip angles 34 and35 and through the flanges 19 and 18 of the posts 15 and 16 secure thesaid plate 26 to said posts. j

The deflector plate 27, like its companion lower plates 25 and 29, isapplied to the supporting posts in a manner'somewhat similar to thedeflector plate 26. To each of the flanges 31 and 32 of said plate 27are secured a pair of clip angles 38 and 39 which are welded to theflanges 31 and 32 along lines 40. These clip angles are spaced asindicated at 41 in Fig. to form a groove for the reception of theflanges 19 and 18 of posts and 16. The grooves 41 are of such width asto permit the deflector plate 27 to slide freely in a vertical directionalong said flanges which serve as guides for slidably supporting thesame.

For the purpose of supporting the deflector plate 27 in proper position,the flange 42 of clip angle 39 on flange 31 is extended above the uppersurface of the plate-like portion 30 of said deflector plate. Thisextended part of said angle 39 is formed with an opening 43 in which issecured the end 44' of a cable 45. Cable 45 extends upwardly along therearward face of the post 15 and passes over a pulley 46 secured to saidpost. This pulley is rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 65 which isformed with a threaded end 66 reduced in diameter. This portion of thestud extends through a bracket 67 secured to flange of post 15 and isheld in place thereon through a nut 68. A counter weight 47 attached tothe end 48 of the cable 45 serves partly to counterbalance the weight ofthe deflector plate 27. A similar cable is secured to the correspondingclip angle attached to flange 32 of plate 27 and passes over a similarpulley carried by post 16. This cable in turn has attached to it acounter weight identical with the weight 47. The two counter weightssubstantially balance the weight of the deflector plate 27, whereby thesaid deflector plate may be held in any adjusted position with respectto the posts 15 and 16. The lower deflector plates and 29 are supportedin a manner similar to that of said deflector plate 27. "To the clipangles 38 thereof are attached cables 49 which extend along the forwardsurfaces of posts 14, 15, 16 and 17, and which pass over pulleys 50mounted on. the

flanges 18 and 19 of said posts. These pulleys are journaled on studshafts 69, similar to shafts 65, which are directly attached to the saidflanges of the posts. Counter weights 51 are secured to the ends of thecables 49.

With each of the deflector plates is employed a target 52 which may beconstructed of paper or any other suitable material. This target hassecured to it two hangers 53 and 54 which are constructed at their upperends with hooks 55. These hooks are adapted to hook over a rod 56extending between the flanges 31 and 32 and secured thereto.

.By. means of this construction the targets 52 on the lower deflectorplates are raised and lowered with said plates while the said plates aremanipulated to accommodate the shooting positions assumed by themarksman.

The bullet stop is provided with a receptacle for bullets which isindicated in its entirety at 57. Receptacle 57 consists of walls 58, 59,60 and 61. This receptacle 57 is open at the top and may be constructedwithout a bottom and may rest directly upon the floor of the buildinginwhich the bullet stop is installed. Said structure. encloses the posts14, 15, 16 and 17 and may also enclose the angle 22. Within thereceptacle. 57 sand is placed as. indicated at 62.

The invention is used and operates as follows: When the marksman desiresto shoot while standing, the lower deflector plates are raised so thatthe relation thereof with respect to the fixed upper plates is the sameasthat illustrated at the right and at. the left of Fig. 1. The marksmanthen shoots at the desired target. The bullets pass through the targetand strike the planiform portion of the deflector plate carrying thetarget, said bullet being deflected downwardly and rearwa'rdly andthence finally downwardly by the lip 33' into the sand 62 in thereceptacle 57. When the marksman wishes to shoot from a prone'position,one of the lower deflector plates is lowered into the position in whichdeflector plate2'1 in Fig. 1 is shown. The marksman may then shoot atthe target carried thereby and the bullets, on striking said deflectorplate, will be deflected downwardly and into the receptacle 57. Due tothe fact that the lips of the uppermost deflector plates are rearwardlyfrom those of the lowermost deflector plates, each set of deflectorplatescauses the discharge of bullets separately into the receptaclewithout interference and without the bullets from the uppermostdeflector plate striking the lowermost deflector plate. When themarksman wishes to shoot from a kneeling position, one of the lowerdeflector plates carrying the particular target to be used may beelevated or lowered, as the case may be, into the proper position.

My invention is exceedingly simple and is positive in action. Each ofthe deflector plates can be constructed from sheet metal bent into thedesired form and without special tools or equip ments. The deflectorplates are adjustable to accommodate different postures of the marksman.Due to thefact that the lower deflector plates may be adjusted, thebullet stop may be employed for all positions of the marksman withoutrequiring the entire surface of the wall in back of the bullet stop tobe completely protected. By discharging the bullets in the sandcontained within the receptacle for bullets, a part of the momentum ofthe bullet is absorbed when the bullet strikes the sand so that itbecomes unneces-- sary to absorb all of the energy of the bullet at thedeflector plate. By arranging the upper deflector plates, bullets areprevented from striking the lower deflector plates upon being dischargedfrom the upper plates. By means of the pulleys and counter weights, thedeflector plates may be easily and quickly adjusted from one position toanother and require no locking means to hold them in any particularposition. With my construction, the bullet stop may be built in unitsand additional units added as desired to build up a bullet stop of anydesired width and to accommodate any number of marksmen.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby'Letters Patentis:

1. A bullet stopping device for use with targets disposed one above theother, said device includ:

ing upright supporting means, and deflector plates mounted thereon, oneabove the other, there being one deflector plate for each target, abullet receptacle common to said deflector plates, said receptacle beinglocated beneath the lowermost plate, each deflector plate being inclineddownwardly from the front thereof and having a lip at its lower end witha downwardly extending discharge surface for directing bullet fragmentsdownwardly into said receptacle, the lip of the lowermost deflectorplate being disposed forwardly of the lip of the deflector platethereabove, whereby bullet fragments discharged from said latter platewill be directed clear of said lowermost plate.

2, A bullet stopping device for use with targets disposed one above theother, said device including upright supporting means, and deflectorplates mounted thereon, one above the other there being one deflectorplate for each target, one of the plates being supported for verticaladjustment and having means for supporting its respective target infront thereof, a bullet receptacle common to said deflector plates, saidreceptacle being located beneath the lowermost plate, each deflectorplate being inclined downwardly from the front thereof and having a lip'at its lower end with a downwardly extending discharge surface fordirecting bullet fragments downwardly into said receptacle, the lip ofthe lowermost deflector plate being disposed forwardly of the lip of thedeflector plate there- 'above, whereby bullet fragments discharged fromsaid latter plate will be directed clear of said lowermost plate. r

3. A bullet stopping device for use with a target to be presented atvarious elevations to suit the various postures taken by marksmen, saiddevice including an upright support and a deflector plate mountedthereon, a stationary bullet receptacle located beneath the deflectorplate, said plate serving to direct bullet fragments into saidreceptacle, target supporting means carried by the deflector plate, andguide means directly attached to said deflector'plate and movable alongsaid upright support for guiding said deflector plate and target forsimultaneous movement along the support, whereby both target and platemay be stationed to accord with the particular posture assumed by themarksman in shooting at the target. 7

ARTHUR D. CASWELL.

